MYSTERY surrounds the decision to change parking spaces at a shopping park, leaving parents with young children baffled.

At the Malvern Hills Retail Park in Roman Way, there were several designated ‘Parent and Child’ parking spaces, which have extra space around the sides for getting prams in and out of cars. These have since been removed and re-designated as disabled spaces.

The decision means that there are now no dedicated parent and child spaces on the retail park, and Kate Richards, who uses the retail park often with her young son, said it is ‘baffling’ that the spaces have been changed.

She said: “I was really surprised when I saw that they had changed it as it means that there is now not really enough space to get the pram out of the boot.

“I either have to get the pram and my son out in the road which is really dangerous, or lift the pram over the top of the car to get it set up.

“It happened a few weeks ago and fortunately I had my dad with me so he helped me with lifting it into position but there really should be some parent and child spaces. I’m sure there are other parents who will have noticed this because it creates a real problem.

“It is absolutely nothing against disabled people and I understand the need for space from a disability point of view, as well. A solution would be to add in designated spaces, designed for both disabled users and those with children.”

The retail park has been owned by Surrey County Council since 2017, though they are not involved with the day to day running of the site.

Cushman Wakefield, the company that manages the site on the council's behalf, was unavailable to comment.